Before seemingly every cable channel had an awards show, the
Soul Train Awards were the definitive awards show for black music. It was a
showcase for African American superstars and those brilliant black artists who’s
work never made it to the Grammy or American Music Award stage. The Soul Train
Awards was the hottest urban awards show, and this year, it made a
strong return to the airwaves.
There were tributes. There were comedy skits. There was a
Scramble Board. The Soul Train Awards are back with some adaptations for the
new generation. As the show is prepped
for its on-air resurrection, we take a look at the three most important
questions for the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards:
1. Terrence
Howard and Taraji Henson
The dual-host approach can be a
mixed blessing. You have two personalities delivering punchlines and pratfalls
so it can help keep audiences from growing sick of the same voice and face over
the course of three hours. But when the two hosts click, it can be an expected
bonus to long awards show. When you find yourself anxiously awaiting the next
comedy sketch, you know you’ve got a winner. Will the Hustle & Flow co-stars
be able to channel some of their previous on-camera magic?
2. Tributes,
tributes, and more tributes?
The show is looking to celebrate
the last 50 years of great black pop music, and with so many milestones
happening this year in music (Motown turns 50, hip-hop turns 30, Def Jam
Records is 25, and Michael Jackson died), there are a bevy of medleys and
video clips to choose from. This year the Soul Train Awards looks to touch on
most — if not all — of these anniversaries, plus tip the cap to funk/soul legends
Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson. Can the show pay tribute without turning into a
blatant nostalgia-fest? Hmmmm….
3. Can
the Show Reclaim the Buzz of Its Classic Era?
In its heyday, the Soul Train
Music Awards was the biggest awards night of the year for the African American
recording artists. Now, with the BET Awards, the Dirty Awards, the BET Hip Hop
Awards, and a host of others, how does Soul Train stand out, push forward, and
still hold onto its impressive legacy? Emphasizing vocalists over rappers may
be a start, but it may also hurt viewership; and everyone’s television options
are vast. With so many pop culture awards shows scattered on the televised
landscape, can the Soul Train Music Awards distinguish itself from the crowd? –todd williams
